The Vision

"Where there is no vision, the people perish ..." Proverbs 29:18

It has been an exciting time here at Broken Arrow. Last month we "completed" our two-year building project and had a week-long Dedication/Revival, celebrating a job well-done and sancifying (setting apart for a specific purpose) our new facilities. Prayerfully, the Body here at Broken Arrow consecrated this beautiful new building into the service of our Precious Lord and Saviour.

While we mark a new beginning in the ministry here at Broken Arrow, we also bear in mind the vision by which Broken Arrow came to be. When Pastor Clyde and his wife Victoria came into this valley over 30 years ago, did not see sand and rocks - they saw a Lighthouse shining in the desert. Broken Arrow Baptist Camp, the vision that initially brought them here, was just the beginning. Immediately they saw God had much more in His mind for the faithful in this little community than one man could ever imagine, the need to build a local, Bible believing, independent, fundamental Baptist Church. What a testament of God's faithfulness to His people that we here at Broken Arrow have been so privileged to be part of. Through good times and trials, through joy and sorrow, God's Word has proven true time and time again. Because of one man's dream, because a people caught "the vision," the people of Broken Arrow grew in grace and truth, and when the mantle passed from his shoulders, The Vision did not die and The People did not perish.

Before the first stone was laid for that old building years ago, God knew those who would pass through it's doors, each and every one. Before the first sermon was preached from that old pulpit, each successor who would stand in the pulpits of Broken Arrow was know to the Author of the universe. He still knows what tomorrow holds; all we know is this, if we remain true to the Word of God, and if we keep the vision, Broken Arrow Baptist Church will be here long after we are all gone. But if we don't, we will be like countless churches across this country, that have a name, but there is no life inside, no vision.

We are few in number, but that few keeps busy. We have so many ministries, some old and some new, that many times we are spread very thin. It is important to keep our eyes on the Lord and not on ourselves; or on each other. At Broken Arrow Baptist Church we attempt to teach anyone who is willing all facets of the different ministries, there are no private kingdoms. We also have a saying, "we are all weed-pickers." Whether you are the nursery worker or the pastor, if you see the weed, you pick it. There are no jobs too big, or too small. Sometimes we tend to think we are only a teacher, or a counselor, or in music, and our focus centers on "our ministry" "our talent" instead of on God's ministry. Talent is a wonderful things, but our talents should never become our own. We all have special gifts that God has given us, the question is do we just want to minister with those talents? Or do we want to be usable, for His service, His glory, His kingdom, whether or not it suits us?

At Broken Arrow we have a heritage, we have seen a vision come to pass and we have received a new vision. First, we must keep our eyes upon His and His Word, keep our ears open for His still, small voice. Then we follow the direction that the Lord leads us with a willing heart, and readiness to do our parts. Remember, if our eyes are upon our "ministries" our "service for God" they are not upon God Himself, and we have lost the vision. If, however, we keep our eyes stayed fast upon Him, the glory of the vision will grow in our hearts and lives.

Habakkuk 2:1-4 "I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith."

The Staff of Pur-r-fect for Women